Joseph N. Evans, Ph.D., serves as the 10th senior pastor of the historic Mount Carmel Baptist Church, which has been a beacon light for the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area since 1876.

Dr. Evans’ vision for Mount Carmel broadens the church’s tradition of community building: Under his leadership, Mount Carmel has developed an economic partnership, MQW, with Quadrangle and the Wilkes Company. Together they have acquired prime D.C. real estate valued at more than $7 million. Their urban project—which includes building facilities for a K-8 school, family housing and non-profit space—exceeds $21 million and serves as an economic model for the revitalization of downtown Washington. The project also will create church parking and provide conference space for church and community events.

In addition, agreements with other regional development firms such as Lowe Enterprises have placed Mount Carmel at the heart of community revitalization efforts. Pastor Evans envisions the church using its center seat at negotiation tables for further investments in employment for local residents and other regional economic opportunities. In fact, he serves as vice chair of the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District.

Recently, Mount Carmel collaborated with Cornerstone Academy, an existing private school, to create Cornerstone Mount Carmel Christian Academy. The school is located in Mount Carmel’s educational space. Future plans include moving the school into a new facility.

Accustomed to leading from an early age, Pastor Evans quarterbacked varsity teams through high school and college, before joining the U.S. Army and answering the Lord’s call to preach His Gospel. Pastor Evans graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology with an undergraduate degree in history and government. Later, he attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisiana, where he received his master of divinity degree. He pastored the historic First Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia.

Maintaining both a call to lead God’s people at Mount Carmel and a commitment to serve as a chaplain in the U.S. Army National Guard, Pastor Evans earned his doctor of philosophy degree in Christian preaching with an emphasis in rhetoric from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. He continues enhancing his education at such institutions as the Regent Park College, Oxford University, where he is annually invited to participate in the Proclaimer’s Place lectures and seminars.

A gifted and accomplished preacher, Dr. Evans can be heard on various radio stations nationwide. He also writes op-ed commentary and essays for the Washington Times, the Washington Informer, the National Baptist Voice, and other publications. Currently, he is writing a scholarly essay for a book on 19th century preachers and their methods; the book is to be published by Brill Press and Chalice Press.

In addition to pastoring Mount Carmel, he has served as an adjunct professor at the Howard University School of Divinity and has taught at Wesley Theological Seminary. He serves as a board member on many organizations, including the Academy of Homiletics, Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home, and Nannie Helen Burroughs School. He also serves as an executive member of the Baptist Convention of Washington, D.C., and Vicinity, and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Evans is married to the former Patricia Lewis and has two children, Gabrielle and Matthew.

©Mount Carmel Baptist Church 2010